The Winnipeg Jets forward is having a hard time coping after several close friends -- including former Jet Igor Korolev -- passed away after the horrific plane crash that claimed the lives of 43 people, many of whom were members of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the Kontinental Hockey League.

"He was my good friend, so it's really sad," said Antropov. "Anytime one of your close buddies or family passes away, it's a tough situation. I'm always going to remember him."

Antropov first got to know Korolev when both were members of the Toronto Maple Leafs, as a 19-year-old looking to find his way in a new country.

"He did a lot of good things for me," said Antropov, who was born in Kazakhstan and joined the Maple Leafs in 1999-2000. "He was a big brother for me. He took me under his wing. I didn't speak any English. Our houses in Toronto were five minutes apart and he took care of me for the first couple of years. He did everything for me and guided me through my first couple of years in North America."

"Actually, he's the Godfather of my son, so it's a tough loss for us."

When news of the crash began to spread on Monday morning, Antropov was in disbelief.

"I phoned his wife and I had a really tough time talking to her," said Antropov. "I didn't know what to say. It's really tough."

Antropov actually spent part of the NHL lockout playing for Lokomotiv, so the news was devastating.

"I knew eight or nine guys there, I took it really hard and I still can't believe it happened," said Antropov. "It's a big loss, not just for myself and my family but the whole hockey world. I'm thinking about it pretty much every day. It's always in my head, unless I'm playing with my kids. Then you sit down and relax and boom, it pops out again."

NO NEWS: Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said there was nothing new to report regarding the contract negotiations with restricted free agent Zach Bogosian.

"Things are pretty much status quo," said Cheveldayoff. "Just conversations as they go. It's something that will play itself out over time."

Bogosian's agent Bob Murray seemed to echo those comments.

"We will continue to talk in hopes of getting something resolved, but timing is impossible to predict," Murray wrote in an email.